Nicolas Sarkozy government embroiled in sex scandal in wake of DSK affair

Nicolas Sarkozy's government has become embroiled in a sex scandal in the wake of the Dominique Strauss-Kahn affair after a government minister was accused of sexual harassment.

President Nicolas Sarkozy (left) and the former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-KahnPhoto: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

1:55PM BST 25 May 2011

Two French women are filing legal complaints, apparently encouraged to speak up after the recent arrest of Mr Strauss-Kahn on sex crime charges.

Gilbert Collard, lawyer for the women, said he had submitted the complaints against Georges Tron, the civil service minister to a public prosecutor this week and he confirmed to Reuters that the accusation was sexual harassment.

Mr Tron's lawyer, Olivier Schnerb, dismissed the complaints and said he had been instructed to respond by filing a slander complaint in return.

Mr Tron himself said he had informed Francois Fillon, the prime minister, about the matter, adding that the plaintiffs were women who had been dismissed from their town hall posts.

"The complaint was sent by mail on Monday and reiterated by the plaintiffs this morning," Collard said.

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The two women were allegedly assaulted after Mr Tron offered them "foot massages", according to Le Parisient newspaper.

One of the women said she felt encouraged to break her silence by the news that the now former IMF chief Mr Strauss-Kahn had been arrested and accused of attempted rape on the basis of the accusations of a New York hotel maid.

"When I see that a little chambermaid is capable of taking on Dominique Strauss-Kahn, I tell myself I do not have the right to stay silent," said the woman, whom the newspaper called Laura, adding that this was not her real name.

Mr Strauss-Kahn, who was favourite to win next year's French presidential election, was arrested in New York on May 14 and has been charged with attempting to rape a Sofitel hotel maid, charges he has denied and vowed to fight.

The arrest has triggered soul-searching and debate in France about tolarence of sexual harassment and media reluctance to pursue and highlight such issues more aggressively.